Hosted operating system start-up G.ho.st, has accused Microsoft of violating a company trademark with its  "no walls" slogan in its latest adverts.

Microsoft used the phrase in its US$300 million Windows marketing and advertising campaign designed to boost its Vista operating system’s image.

G.ho.st CEO Zvi Schreiber wrote to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and told him to stop using the phrases "life without walls," "imagine without walls" and "imagine no walls" on its products, Web site, marketing materials, advertising and other promotions and agree in writing to stop using these phrases.

Microsoft ignored him saying that "the allegation is without merit."

G.ho.st has been using the phrase "no walls" since April last year while peddling its G.ho.st Virtual Computer which runs in a virtual environment as an alternative to Windows.

Microsoft's use of "life without walls," "imagine without walls" and "imagine no walls" is virtually identical to our trademark, Schreiber complained.

However he might find himself in a tricky situation legally.  Although it might have used the phrase since March G.ho.st has not yet officially trademarked the phrase and only filed an application to do so last Tuesday, the day it sent Microsoft the letter.

It would be difficult to suggest, as Schreiber has done, that Microsoft’s  use of the phrase is designed to scare off potential investors in G.ho.st and stop it from giving our it a chance.

Amongst other requests from G.ho.st was the demand that Microsoft publish "in the same media where these marks were displayed or advertised" clarification that it has not licensed G.ho.st's technology or trademark and that it doesn't offer the same "features or benefits of the G.ho.st Virtual Computer.

G.ho.st was founded in 2006 and has about 40 employees in Israel and the West Bank. X

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